Burrow Strengthens MVP Case With Bengals’ Madrid Win

Joe Burrow delivered a standout performance at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on November 8, leading the Cincinnati Bengals to a 34-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. He threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, added a rushing touchdown and completed all but five of his passes.

The quarterback has been especially productive over his past four games, accounting for 18 touchdowns and throwing for 1,215 yards. His passer rating across that stretch is 132.0. Burrow said he was pleased to play for the people of Spain. Asked by a Madrid reporter for a message in Spanish, he replied that he had nothing to offer.

Through eight games, his numbers project to 5,070 passing yards and 49 passing touchdowns over a 17-game season, along with six rushing touchdowns. That would amount to 55 total touchdowns. The projection is not a forecast, and Cincinnati faces upcoming games against Pittsburgh and Kansas City, as well as Carolina.

Burrow credited the Bengals’ long-standing connection, including with receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, for their understanding on the field. He also noted that the team had room to improve, saying it had not scored on every possession.

His availability remains a concern given past injuries. Burrow missed the end of his rookie season after a serious knee injury in 2020, sat out seven games in 2023 after wrist surgery, and missed nine games in 2025 following surgery for turf toe. If he stays healthy, his current form puts him in contention for the MVP award.